Hurdle Model
- Represents a binary outcome as a sequence of decision stages (hurdles) that must be passed.
- Each hurdle (e.g., awareness, interest, ability to act) is analyzed separately to identify influencing factors.
- Commonly applied in economics and marketing research to study consumer decisions and voter turnout.
Definition
Section titled “Definition”The hurdle model is a statistical model that is used to analyze the effect of multiple factors on a binary outcome. Each hurdle in the decision-making process is analyzed separately to understand the factors that influence the outcome at each stage.
Explanation
Section titled “Explanation”The model views a binary outcome (for example, whether an individual makes a purchase or casts a vote) as the result of passing a sequence of intermediate stages, or “hurdles.” At each hurdle, different factors may determine whether an individual proceeds to the next stage. By modeling each hurdle independently, researchers can identify which factors influence each stage of the overall decision-making process.
Examples
Section titled “Examples”Purchasing decision
Section titled “Purchasing decision”A company may use the hurdle model to understand the factors that influence a customer’s decision to purchase their product. The first hurdle in the decision-making process is whether the customer is aware of the product. If the customer is aware of the product, the next hurdle is whether they are interested in purchasing it. If the customer is interested in purchasing the product, the final hurdle is whether they have the means to purchase it (e.g. sufficient funds).
In this example, the binary outcome is whether the customer makes a purchase or not. The first hurdle is awareness, the second hurdle is interest, and the third hurdle is the availability of funds. Each hurdle is analyzed separately to understand the factors that influence the decision-making process at each stage.
Voter turnout
Section titled “Voter turnout”The hurdle model can be applied to analyze voter turnout. The first hurdle in the decision-making process is whether the individual is registered to vote. If they are registered, the next hurdle is whether they are aware of the election and interested in voting. If they are aware and interested, the final hurdle is whether they have the means to vote (e.g. transportation to the polling station).
In this example, the binary outcome is whether the individual casts a vote or not. The first hurdle is registration, the second hurdle is awareness and interest, and the third hurdle is the availability of transportation. The hurdle model can be used to understand the factors that influence voter turnout at each stage of the decision-making process.
Use cases
Section titled “Use cases”- Economics and marketing research (explicitly noted as common applications)
- Analyzing consumer decision-making (purchase decisions)
- Studying voter turnout dynamics
Related terms
Section titled “Related terms”- Binary outcome
- Decision-making process